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2020 Map of Hopley Creek South

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Hopley Creek South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

The Musselshell River meanders across this central Montana landscape, creating a fertile riparian corridor through a region of high plains and coulees. Irrigation infrastructure, such as the Twodot Canal, reflects the agricultural necessity of moving water from the river to the surrounding ranch lands. This water management is a defining characteristic of Wheatland County, where the economy centers on cattle and hay production facilitated by an extensive network of creeks including Mexican John Cr and Hopley Cr.

Local ranching history is etched into the landscape through family-named thoroughfares like Capser Ranch Rd, Clydes Rd, and Muir Ln. The terrain shifts from the flat river valley into more textured features such as Dresback Coulee and the drainage of Mud Cr. This survey documents the intersection of natural hydrology and human engineering required to sustain rural life in the American West during the early twenty-first century.